Patents Examined by Michael James Giordano
  • Patent number: 11525585
    Abstract: A method for controlling a water heater comprising: receiving report information transmitted by a user-wearable device at a predetermined frequency; determining whether a user is coming back according to user location information included in the report information; and if the user is coming back, turning on a return water pump to permit water outputted from a water outlet of the water heater to return to the water heater through a water return port. The present disclosure determines a movement direction and the user location by using report information transmitted by the user-wearable device. If the user is coming back, the return water pump is turned on to permit water to return, so that the user can take a hot bath immediately after arriving home, thereby improving user's experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignees: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES (WUHAN) CO., LTD, GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Xuewen Qiao, Wenxuan Tao, Biao Chen
  • Patent number: 11519633
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to implementation of an environmental control unit using rotomolded techniques to fabricate the structures of the unit instead of the standard conventional sheet metal, extruded, forged, and punched parts. Such implementations will provide a lighter weight and more durable mechanical configuration that will also simplify inspection, simplify assembly/disassembly, and reduce fabrication costs. Implementations incorporate rotationally-molded interlocking structures to contain and attach the critical items of the ECU's mechanical components including the compressor, and the indoor and outdoor coils, as well as the fan and blower motor assembly. In one implementation, the rotomolded structure is strengthened and insulated (thermally and acoustically) by filling the interior void of the rotationally molded structure with a closed-cell foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Carpenter, Joseph A. Holtz, Daniel L. Murphy, William J. Harrington, Gregory S. Cole, Robert P. Scaringe
  • Patent number: 11519630
    Abstract: A method and device are for adjusting air volume of an air conditioner are provided, that use a computer readable storage medium. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit with a vase-shaped housing, wherein the vase-shaped housing includes a bottle mouth and where an air outlet of the indoor unit is provided at the bottle mouth of the vase-shaped housing. A liftable cover plate is provided at the air outlet of the indoor unit. The method includes obtaining specified air volume, obtaining curved surface features of an inner wall at the bottle mouth of the vase-shaped housing and cover plate specifications of the cover plate, and adjusting an actual height of the cover plate according to the specified air volume, the curved surface features, and the cover plate specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER AIR-CONDITIONING ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pengfei Yin, Dahai Lu, Haisheng Wang, Zhongxiao Zhang, Wei Zhang, Yanfang Cai, Ningning Duo, Lirong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11499742
    Abstract: There is provided a door mechanism comprising a door and a door closure mechanism for moving the door between a first, open, position and second, closed position. The door closure mechanism comprises a drive motor coupled to a drive screw, the drive screw having a first, right handed thread portion and a second, left handed thread portion, a first drive nut threadedly engaged with the first thread portion, a second drive nut threadedly engaged with the second thread portion, a first drive linkage pivotally coupled to the first drive nut at one end and to the door at a second, opposed end, and a second drive linkage pivotally coupled to the second drive nut at one end and to the door at a second, opposed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pawel Kwaƛniewski
  • Patent number: 11493235
    Abstract: Described is a liquid heater having a housing, in which a flow channel runs from an inlet to an outlet, a heating resistor arranged within the housing for heating liquid flowing through the flow channel, control electronics which are arranged in an interior space of the housing, the interior space being sealed off from the flow channel, and a plug connector attached to the housing. Provided according to this disclosure, the plug connector has a vent duct which is closed by a membrane and which leads to the interior space sealed against the ingress of liquid, in which interior space the control electronics are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Nicolaus Wulff, Sven Schumm, Christian Pottiez, Timo Stifel
  • Patent number: 11472267
    Abstract: A rotary apparatus includes a motor, a plurality of gears including an output gear, and a housing accommodating the plurality of gears and the motor. The housing includes a first surface portion, a second surface portion facing the first surface portion and spaced apart from the first surface portion, and a sidewall portion provided at an outer peripheral portion of the first surface portion and the second surface portion and supporting the first surface portion and the second surface portion. One of the first surface portion and the second surface portion includes a vibration damping part opposing the output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventor: Yukimasa Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11473811
    Abstract: Wind baffles are provided at a side discharge vent of a cabinet containing a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system. The wind baffles include two or more baffles joined to a support frame. The baffles have a leading edge towards ambient environment surrounding of the cabinet and a trailing edge towards an interior of the cabinet, and the leading edge has a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the trailing edge. The baffles may surround each successive baffle. The baffles may be concentric The wind baffles may be located between ambient environment surrounding of the cabinet and a fan near the side discharge vent. The fan may be a variable-speed fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC., TRANE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zi Xia Jin
  • Patent number: 11466891
    Abstract: An indoor unit includes a housing, an air duct member, and a thermal insulation tube. The housing has an accommodating cavity. the air duct member is detachably mounted in the accommodating cavity. A mounting space is formed at a side of the air duct member in a length direction of the air duct member. The mounting space has a mounting opening facing an outside of the housing. The thermal insulation tube includes a tube section extending along a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the air duct member. The tube section is at least partially arranged in the mounting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiang Qin, Kuifang Zou, Qiankun Liu, Xidong Wang
  • Patent number: 11460222
    Abstract: An automatic hygienic hot water expediter device for the hastening of the delivery of warm/hot water to a spigot for purposes of hygiene and comfort. The automatic hygienic hot water expediter device generally includes a controller, tubing or piping composed of code-appropriate materials, and flow control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Chris Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 11448395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-temperature reheater anti-friction device for anti-friction of metal tubes on a heated surface of a high-temperature reheater adjacent to a soot blower, has a hole-type tube clamp arranged on a metal tube of a heated surface of a high-temperature reheater, an anti-friction box and an anti-friction cover. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantages of reduced maintenance workload of the unit and prolonged service life of the metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Biao Li, Xiaofeng Wu, Ping Shen, Shun Wang, Qiudi Zhang, Lucheng Jin
  • Patent number: 11448472
    Abstract: A heat transfer fin includes a fin body having a plate shape, a plurality of through-holes famed through the fin body and spaced apart from each other in a first direction, in which a heat exchange pipe is inserted into the plurality of through-holes and heating water flows along an empty space in the heat exchange pipe, and two outer body portions protruding outward from at least partial areas of opposite ends of the fin body with respect to the first direction. Each of the outer body portions includes a contact portion that makes contact with a heat-insulating pipe with a heat-insulating side plate therebetween and that has a shape corresponding to at least a partial area of an outer surface of the heat-insulating pipe through which the heating water flows and a separated portion spaced apart from the heat-insulating side plate to form a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Chul Jeong, Jung Yul Bae
  • Patent number: 11415326
    Abstract: A heated water device is disclosed. The heated water device includes a cold water tank configured to receive cold water from a cold water source and a hot water tank configured to receive water from a hot water source and discharge water to the cold water source. The heated water device includes a pump configured to selectively pump water from the hot water source and to the hot water tank and a valve configured to selectively permit water to flow from the hot water tank to the cold water source. The heated water device includes a thermoelectric generator configured to generate electrical energy from a water temperature differential between cold water in the cold water tank and heated water in the hot water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Davis Engelman, Maia Gatlin, Carrie Li, Erik Marquez, Nishan Guna Sakaran, Victor Pria, Mukund Bhaskar, Atilhan Manay
  • Patent number: 11391490
    Abstract: An offset mounting bracket that comprises a primary member and a stabilization member can be used to mount multiple heat engines to a water storage tank. An offset mounting bracket can include a primary member, having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a stabilization member, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a supporting surface that is opposed and connected to the primary member outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a connecting member. The connecting member can be configured to fasten to the top of a water storage tank. There, the offset mounting bracket, can provide a surface to mount a heat engine that otherwise would not fit onto the water storage tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: RINNAI AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Knoblett, Ansley Houston
  • Patent number: 11378304
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) case including a mount for mounting the HVAC case to a vehicle dash with a fastener. A fastener housing is defined by the mount for receiving the fastener therein. The fastener housing includes an aperture configured to receive a shank of the fastener. The fastener housing further includes a head housing configured to receive a head of the fastener. The head housing includes a locator portion configured to center the head in the head housing and a stress relief portion between the locator portion and the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Rodriguez, Kevin McAlpine
  • Patent number: 11353133
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a device securing an actuating drive on a duct outer face of an HVAC duct against rotation. The actuating drive includes an actuator for driving an actuation connection about an actuation axis. The actuation connection interacts with a flap arranged in the ventilation duct to set a gaseous volumetric flow. The actuating drive includes a housing with a ledge formed on a bottom side of the housing and surrounding the actuation connection coaxially relative to the actuation axis. The housing bottom side lies opposite the duct outer face. The device may include: a fastening part for fastening to the outer face; and a fork-shaped receptacle formed at an end. The receptacle geometrically matches a radial outer face of the housing ledge such that after lateral sliding onto the outer face of the ledge, the receptacle fixes said ledge and thus the actuating drive against rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Pascal Kamber, Lucian Bischof, Beat Gantenbein
  • Patent number: 11346574
    Abstract: An air supply device with an annular air outlet and a design method thereof are provided. The device includes an air delivery section arranged in a horizontal plane and communicated with a plurality of air-out sections, wherein an axis of each of the plurality of air-out sections is in a vertical direction; the air delivery section and the plurality of air-out sections are respectively provided with air return ducts communicated with each other, the air return ducts each have a fresh air duct provided therein; an axis of the fresh air duct is parallel to an axis of corresponding air return duct of the air return ducts, and the fresh air duct and the corresponding air return duct are equal in length, the plurality of air-out sections are arranged above office cubicles in a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology
    Inventors: Bin Yang, Zhe Li, Changqing Yang, Bin Zhou, Wei Su, Shuaixing Xu, Mengchun Wu, Ran Gao, Haiguo Yin, Angui Li
  • Patent number: 11326772
    Abstract: Provided is a boiler configured to perform heating by a heat generation section provided with heat generation bodies in a container and capable of properly charging a circulation path including, as part thereof, the inside of the container with required gas. A boiler includes: heat generation bodies; a container configured such that the heat generation bodies are provided inside and configured chargeable with gas with higher specific heat than that of air; and a circulation path including, as part thereof, the inside of the container, the circulation path being a path in which gas circulates. When the charging process of charging the circulation path with the gas is performed, a circulation amount and a gas concentration in the circulation path are monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: MIURA CO., LTD., Clean Planet Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Otani, Kenichi Katakawa
  • Patent number: 11313566
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes an air outlet; and a blowout flow passage connected to the air outlet and guides air subjected to heat exchange at a heat exchanger to the air outlet. In a cross section perpendicular to an air flow direction in the blowout flow passage, the passage has a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction. The blowout flow passage is divided into first regions, a second region, and third regions. The first regions include the first end and the second end. The second region includes a center position in the longitudinal direction of the passage. The third regions are between the first regions and the second region in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koki Moro, Norio Katsuma